Shine on, you crazy diamond: Tranmere Rovers’ tactical frustrations
When the late, great Frank Worthington left Tranmere Rovers as player-manager during the 1986/87 season, Rovers were very much in danger of being the first team to be automatically relegated from the Football League. Yet his post-Rovers legacy proved significant; Ian Muir up front, Johnny Morrissey on the wing and Mark Hughes in the heart of defence were integral to Rovers’ ascent up the league pyramid under Johnny King, but it was Worthington who brought each of these players to Prenton Park.
One could say history repeated itself some thirty years later when Gary Brabin recruited the three players who helped to save Rovers from financial oblivion in James Norwood, Andy Cook and Connor Jennings (get well soon, mate) only to see his successor Micky Mellon get the best out of them when it mattered most. There are also possible comparisons to be drawn between Worthington, Brabin and the current man in charge at Rovers.
It has been something of a recurring theme that there is no lack of talent in the current squad and there is still something of an expectation for Rovers to claim one of the automatic promotion places. However, Rovers continue to spurn the opportunity to enter the top three, almost like a middle distance runner reluctant to lead from the front. Devon Loch and all that.
A disjointed performance against the bottom side in Grimsby where Rovers were simply unable to create chances from open play, there was a need for a change going into the Exeter game if Rovers were to avoid a second successive home defeat. Yet the changes in personnel led to the same lack of creativity in open play, and Rovers were thankful for some kamikaze defending that led to the two penalties that saw them over the line against Exeter.
Key to this lack of creativity from open play (which ultimately led to Michael Jackson’s downfall) has been Keith Hill sticking religiously to the 4–3–3 formation that saw Rovers climb the table in January and February even during James Vaughan’s absence through injury. This is despite David Nugent failing to match Vaughan’s mobility, strength and speed of reaction which made him such a constant threat for opposing defences before his injury at Brisbane Road.
This is not a slight on Nugent, who has had so little game time before he came to Prenton Park whilst Vaughan’s only previous absences from Rovers’ starting line-up were through Papa John’s time outs or Covid-19 isolation. At the time of writing, Nugent’s only telling contribution in open play since arriving at Prenton Park was his perfectly timed run and cross for Vaughan’s winner against Carlisle last month, where Rovers ended up playing with two upfront.
Yet when Hill ended up changing to what looked like 3–5–2 for the Colchester game, Nugent found himself on the bench instead of being given the chance to show what he could do with a fellow striking partner. I say it looked like 3–5–2 as Hill’s takeaway from the match in his post-match interview was that Colchester were able to counter-attack as the full backs were too high up the pitch.
Whatever the formation, the introduction of Ali Crawford for Liam Ridehalgh (who stumbled for Colchester’s first goal and lost his marker for their second) was a blessed relief. By this stage, Nugent had come on for Kieron Morris and looked more at ease as he had Paul Lewis for company upfront. With Nya Kirby’s introduction in place of Danny Lloyd, each of these substitutes were players brought to the club by Hill during the last transfer window.
And whilst Hill thought Kirby should have scored what would have been the winner deep in injury time, this seemed a bit harsh. But for his awareness in reading the deflection from Jay Spearing’s shot, combined with his touch and technique in getting a shot away in one movement, Kirby would not have had that opportunity in the first place.
It might be a reach expecting Hill to pick the same starting eleven that finished the Colchester game, but it shouldn’t be a reach for him to contemplate a return to the Dawes Diamond for the Mansfield game. A midfield diamond of Spearing in the anchor role, with Liam Feeney and Crawford in the middle and Kirby playing just behind the front two (which could be see Nugent have Lloyd or Lewis for company) could offer a solution. It might also bring the best out of Hill’s recruits.
However, the cynic in me suspects that Hill will revert to 4–3–3 and start with Nugent on his own upfront yet again for the Mansfield game, where chances will be at a premium once again. If Hill has designs on sprinkling that blend of salt and pepper in order to win over those who would have been happy if Ian Dawes and Andy Parkinson remained in charge, maybe using the formation that worked wonders for his interim predecessors would be a start.
